In an indirect message to NATO, Chinese regime leader Xi Jinping criticized on Wednesday (22) the expansion of such military alliances. He was speaking during a BRICS business forum, which also brings together Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa.
The official Xinhua news agency, citing Xi’s speech, wrote: “The Ukraine crisis has again sounded the alarm for humanity; countries will end up in difficulties if they place blind faith in expanding military alliances and seeking their own security at the expense of others.” others.”
Although not directly involved in the Ukrainian War, Beijing has seen its military cooperation with Moscow grow. Mutual relations soared to new heights weeks before the conflict erupted, when the countries struck a historic agreement that the Chinese leader and Vladimir Putin described as “unlimited friendship”.
While strengthening ties with his northern neighbor and fine-tuning Cold War 2.0 against the US, however, Xi made a case for multipolarity at the meeting. He urged the international community to abandon the zero-sum game in foreign affairs and oppose hegemony, according to quotes from the official Xinhua news agency.
The virtual summit precedes the meeting, also online, between leaders of the countries that make up the BRICS and which can count on the participation of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. The date chosen by China, rotating president, was this Thursday (23).
The meeting also provided another example of Russia’s move towards Asia, intensified by the war and the consequent sanctions imposed by the West. Putin said during the meeting that Moscow is redirecting its trade flows to countries that make up the BRICS.
“There has been a remarkable increase in Russian oil exports to China and India,” Putin said in his speech. Official figures show that Chinese imports of Russian oil rose 55% from a year earlier and reached a record high in May, displacing Saudi Arabia as the main Chinese supplier.
In the same way as his Chinese partner, Putin has hurled criticism – which is nominal – on the West. “Western partners neglect the main basics of the market economy, free trade and the sanctity of private property; they are following an irresponsible macroeconomic course,” said the Russian.
As was already done by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Putin accused Western countries of destroying production chains and affecting the well-being of populations, mentioning in particular the imminent global food crisis. The European Union (EU) blames the Russians for food insecurity by holding millions of tons of grain in Ukraine.
Analysts have said the war in Eastern Europe has cemented Russia’s ties with Asian countries. Indian Parag Khanna, author of “The Future is Asian”, said in a recent interview with Sheet that Russia has become “North Asia”. “Russia has no option but to export, import and trade with Asia.”
The conformation of the BRICS and the weight that Russia has in the emerging bloc was evident in UN votes to condemn the invasion of Ukraine. When the discussion took place in the Security Council, China and India abstained. Brazil voted in favour. South Africa, which is not a member of the collegiate, abstained in two votes at the UN General Assembly with the same scope.
As expected, Brazil did not mention the Ukrainian War during the business forum. Bolsonaro focused his speech on the statement that “the international context is a cause for concern”.
He said his government was concerned “because of the risks to trade and investment flows and the stability of energy and food supply chains.” “Brazil’s response to these challenges is not to close itself off to the rest of the world,” he continued. “On the contrary, we have sought to deepen our economic integration.”
